Traffic is a growing problem in Harrogate. Car ownership in Harrogate is well above average and more than 60 per cent of people travel to work by car. Anyone who lives in Harrogate will have experienced the traffic congestion on many of our roads.
Traffic congestion causes problems for health, for the environment, for the safety of pedestrians, particularly children, for the visual appeal of the town and for the local economy. Yet government figures show that in 2006, more than half of car journeys were for distances less than five miles. Many of these journeys could be made using other means of transport.
Taking part in Harrogate Car Free Day will be fun. It will give you a day off from the car: the chance to stretch your legs; oil your bicycle; chat to someone on the bus; or gaze at the view through a train window. It will also give a glimpse of what Harrogate could be like if we all used the car a bit less.
Taking part in Harrogate Car Free Day may also help you to break old habits. You don’t have to leave the car at home every day, but if you always consider the alternatives and use the car only when necessary, your actions will provide enormous benefits to the town.
Finally, taking part in Harrogate Car Free Day will send a clear message to local and regional government, whose spending priorities are often focused on roads and motorists, that people want alternatives to dependence on the car.
